Winter Word
If you’ve been following our site daily, you may have noticed a little penguin doing some redecorating on our banner. That’s all the work this penguin’s going to do!
We here at the Windermere Word would like to wish you all a very safe and happy holiday season.
VOTE for your Warrior of the Month
Thank you all for voting for your Warrior of the Month. The Warrior .. for the month of January… is… in the January Issue of the Windermere Word! Goodluck to all the nominees!
Keep a lookout for our release on January 14, 2009!!!
BOOK SALE! BOOK SALE! BOOK SALE!
Come check out the book sale on 
Wednesday December 17th and Thursday December 18th at Lunch in room 206. You get free prizes for just showing up! Hooray!!
Books vary from Gossip Girl to Provincial Exam Keys. Most books are only 50 cents!! There’s something for everyone – students, teachers, and parents!
Come check it out!! All funds raised go to the Room To Read organization which helps build schools in developing countries. To find out more, check out: http://www.roomtoread.org/index.html
End off the Year 2008 with 2008 Cans!
Windermere’s canned food drive is back and starting Wednesday, December 10, the food drive will be in full swing. Student volunteers will be collecting cans in room 206 at lunch and many more will be going out into the community afterschool on December 10 and December 15 to reach our goal.
Of course, we don’t have to stop at 2008! Why not get 3000? Well here’s some incentive. If we reach our goal of 2008 cans, Mr.Tam has volunteered to be made into a Christmas tree for the whole school to decorate. That’s right, you can make one of your most favourite math teacher’s a Christmas tree!! If that’s not enough, for every 5 cans you bring in, you’ll be entered into a draw to win an exciting prize!
What’s not to like! Find those cans and bring them over! End off the year with 2008 cans!
Golden Tickets
So you may have all heard of the 5 golden tickets hidden amongst the copies of the Word. Well, 5 lucky winners found them and they each won, as promised, a life altering prize. What was the prize? A bar of organic fair-trade chocolate. Yes, organic AND fair-trade! This means that all the ingredients contain no pesticides and all the cocoa used has been bought through fair labour practices. No child labour was used and there was no exploitation of workers for the cocoa used. So when we said ‘life altering’ we meant it. To read more, go to http://whsword.wordpress.com/2008/12/03/bitter-sweet/
The winners:
David Wang (Grade 11), Joshua Competiente (Grade 10), Apple Gong (Grade 12) & Kelp Watson (WCP-Fastbreak programmer)
To Whom It May Concern
Hey Warriors!
It’s December and the weather is getting chilly. We understand that students feel more tempted to get a ride to school and to get picked up after school, but parents picking up students have been seen idling along the streets around the school. In case you didn’t know, idling, which is staying stationary in your vehicle with your engine running, is illegal if you do it for more than 10 seconds and also produces excess carbon emission. That’s why ACTION members will be taking on the task of reminding parents to turn off their engines while they wait. Did you know that idling for more than 10 seconds wastes more gas than restarting your engine? Well now you do! So we challenge you to be idle free!
Sincerely,
Windermere ACTION
Editor vs. Editor: Buy Nothing Day? What’s that?
Chitha: Hey, did you hear what happened on Friday?
Jenn: November 23rd Black Friday, you mean? (Black Friday occurs the Friday after every Thanksgiving in the US. It does not occur in Canada.)
Chitha: Yeah. Someone died that day at Walmart in the US because the crowds surged through the doors and trampled over one of the poor workers.
Jenn: Yeah, I heard. My teacher was talking about it in class today too.
Chitha: Oh? What did they say?
Child Labour & Sweatshops
by Emily Chan
Imagine you’re sitting and making toys in China to help pay for your families’ living needs. You have been working for hours and hours. Then, you realize that the 30 cents an hour wage that you’re receiving isn’t going to take you very far. Your hands and feet are getting tired, but you can’t take a break or you will be punished. Now, imagine that you’re 5 years old.
Unfortunately, this type of lifestyle isn’t that farfetched from the lives of many 5 to 14-year-old children around the world. Except instead of living in China, you could be living in Malaysia, Thailand, or Vietnam; instead of making toys, you could also be making shoes, clothing, rugs, chocolate, bananas, or coffee.
Ho Ho Hoax
by Mitchell Agostinho
Everyone’s favorite winter holiday is soon approaching. On December 25th, people around the word will unwrap their presents and see what Santa delivered. Was it Santa? The answer that kids around the world are being told is “yes.” Skeptics like to believe that it’s impossible for a large man in a red suit to visit all children in the world during one night. The world knows of the jolly man in the red suit and he is inarguably the symbol of Christmas. But where did he come from?
When I think Santa, this is what I think: I think jolly large man with a red suit, black boots, a sled, and an army of munchkins. What do you think? Well whatever it is, what we should know is the origin of how Santa came to be. I think everyone knows about Saint Nicholas. He is said to be Santa’s “secret identity.” In fact, Saint Nick was a 4th century bishop from Turkey, and was famous for giving out gifts. Some believe that he is in fact Dutch and some are certain that he’s a gnome.
Comic & Eco-Tips
Comic by Venus Wan, Eco-tips by Windermere ACTION
** Wrap your gifts in fabric instead of wrapping paper. This unique way of wrapping saves the landfills from tonnes of waste. If you’re feeling even more adventurous, give your gifts in pots or jars.
** Reuse gift bags – Nobody cares how you give them their present. All that matters is that you put thought into what you’re giving.
**Use LED lights instead of the kind that sucks up energy.
**Organic Fair-Trade Chocolate is a great gift for friends and family. Not only are you keeping out those toxins from your body, but you’re making sure cocoa farmers are paid fairly for their crops.
**Send e-cards instead of buying boxes of expensive cards. You’ll be saving paper and you’ll save money on postage. If e-cards aren’t your thing, make your own cards with recycled paper and other scraps.
OJ Simpson’s Story
by Georgette Gorn
Orenthal James “O.J.” Simpson was born July 9, 1947. He was an accomplished football player in the NFL and even acted in films, such as The Naked Gun Trilogy. But let’s face reality; he is most famous and known for his 1995 trial in which he was accused of murdering his ex-wife Nicole Brown and her friend Ronald Goldman.
Simpson married Brown in 1985, had two children together, and later divorced in 1992. On June 12, 1994, Brown and Goldman were found dead outside of Brown’s condominium. Simpson was charged, but he failed to turn himself in to authorities. His actions led to a low speed pursuit of him in his car in which he was eventually arrested. On October 3, 1995, a jury found him not guilty. In a civil trial later in California, Simpson was found liable for the murder of Goldman and for battery against his ex-wife and so was ordered to pay $33, 500, 000 in damages. Simpson only surrendered $500, 000 from an auction, and payment from his appearance in a video game.
Winter Fashion
by Thomas Law
Hello future/current fashionistas or just anyone with a love for clothes! Here’s what’s “hot” this coming winter for both men and women!
Women:
• Any shade of purple or grey is an automatic ‘thumbs up.’ It’s also all about richer colours this season; if purple or grey isn’t your thing, try deep blue, claret red, maroon, deep gold, chocolate, etc.
• Dresses have also made their comeback this season. The preferred dress is definitely the shirt dress with a collar at about knee length for casual sophistication and comfort. Tie in a big matching belt to emphasize your curves and you’re set to dazzle people at any party or formal event! (Be sure not to wear shiny fabrics because they will most likely make you look “bigger” than you really are!)
• If you’re not a dress person, go for jeans that fit! Jeans with just a slightly high waist and closer fit brings comfort and like the dress, a small emphasis on curves. Paired the jeans with a bold coat in all designs and cuts and you’re set to tackle that winter cold!
The Gag Law – Bill 42
by Nate Leung
Bill 42 was proposed by Gordon Campbell and will impose severe limitations on any organization that wants to tackle any social issue; i.e. climate change, health care, public schools, the Olympics, child care, the gateway project, minimum wage, First Nations treaties, etc. The main reason for creating this “gag law” was due to the upcoming provincial election in May 2009.
Ultimately, the main idea behind the “gag law” is to silence both the media and the public’s voices in order to gain control over the debates that occur during the elections. With an original plan to seize these freedoms over a five-month period until May 2009, it was soon amended to a three-month term starting in February 2009. Each party will be able to broadcast information to the public that is only to their advantage. By imposing this bill, national topics that are evidently against our ethics will be “eliminated” in any media release. Even though the election is in May, it is fast approaching and many advertisements that criticize governmental parties have already been seized. My opinion concerning the new “gag law” is that citizens like you and I should have and do have the right to know about these issues.
LCD vs. Plasma
by Brendan Chan
Nowadays with high definition (HD) TVs becoming popular, a common question is which one is better, LCD or Plasma. Below is the basic outline or pros and cons for each:
LCDs use liquid crystals that prevent screen burn. Unfortunately, they also use fluorescent bulbs. So if the bulb ever blew out, it would mean time to get a new TV! An LCD’s life span is about 60,000 hours, and its screen size ranges from 12 to about 50 inches. LCDs use about .12 to .37 watts per square inch, which is about 106 watts for a 27 inch LCD TV.
What’s Really Going On In Iraq?
by Kaitlyn Fung
“In just 2 years, USA has killed 1.2 MILLION Iraqis, leaving 8 million Iraqis needing medical assistance. 10,000 people were killed in Chile, but none of these peoples’ stories were told. It’s the soldiers that make the news, but the thousands and millions of civilians killed are unmentioned. Dahlia’s last message: “In campaigns, you hear to ‘support the warriors, not the war.’ Would you support the rapist, and not the rape? The murderer, but not the murder? The killer, but not the kill?” Again, SO powerful.” – Emily Chan
The war in Iraq has been going on for some time. That war that you usually hear about in the news, because more innocent people are getting killed. In case you didn’t know, this war has been going on since 2003. That’s five years of killing that hasn’t amounted to anything. Anything positive, that is. The U.S. army has been there the whole time to help, but are they really helping? No, they’re not helping at all. This is the exact point that Dr. Dahlia Wasfi tries to get across in her speeches about Iraq.
2008 World Peace Conference
by Emily Chan
To tell the truth, I found the peace conference to be very interesting. It was so inspiring to see so many adults there, also advocates for peace. It was pointed out to me that most of the issues brought up were very controversial, which I could see the adults disagreeing over. With all of us wanting the same thing, there can still be disagreement in ideas, and that was very thought provoking. Overall, I found myself learning a lot of things about the history of the world. The following bolded headings are names of workshops and plenaries that I attended over two days. This article is therefore a recount of the things I’ve learned.
SATURDAY
Law and Disorder – Ninety Years of International Law by Michael Byers
“What do you want for Christmas?” Questionaire
by Cassandra Ly
Chanel Ly: A newer, shinier, faster, red road bike.
Nathan Dinh: A better, faster, stronger city bike.
Chanel Ly: Are you talking about your own bike?
Nathan Dinh: Nooo… I’m just trying to make fun of yours.
Dan Calud – Grade 10: Money and goodies.
Mr. Rymer: Jaguar XKE 1967-1969.
Cassandra: Would you like a new watch with that?
Mr. Rymer: Sure, definitely!
(more…)
December Warriors of the Month
The following students have been nominated for “Warriors of the Month” because they took their time and energy to give back to the community. These people are to be commended for their tremendous effort. Sweat, leadership, and teamwork were components of the ravine clean-up, and in the end they all claimed that it was a memorable and ‘fun’ event. The Warriors of the Month are: Mr. Castilho, Kiana Martin, Lucas Chan, Shaelynn Leung, Amy Bui, Riya Talwar, and Andrea Novakovic. None of them expected this clean-up to end up like it did.
Racist Incidents After Barack Obama’s Triumph
by Jhona Binos
As the majority of the US population cheered for Barack’s victory on November 4th, multiple racist incidents occurred all over USA right after he was announced the winner of the most historic election of our time. Vandalism, threats, children chanting about Obama being assassinated, and much more…
• New York - Four youths went after a boy named Ali Kamara, while yelling the N word and Obama. Ali was from Libya and he was attacked with a pipe during this racist spree.
• Rexburg, Idaho - This heavily republican state had kids on the bus chanting, “Assassinate Obama,” not knowing what the words meant. They sang it and innocently added other people’s names like it was such a fun song to sing. “Assassinate Obama~….and Kate!”
Music Review featuring Justin Nozuka
Album: Holly
Artist: Justin Nozuka
Release Date: Canadian Release – 04/01/2007
First off, I bet a bunch of people have this review in their hands and are scratching their heads and wondering, “Who the heck is Justin Nozuka?” Does anyone remember 2006’s hugely popular song, “Talk to Me” by George? Well, Justin Nozuka is the equally talented brother of George. George has his super-smooth dance moves – whereas Justin hones his skills on the guitar.
Twilight Movie Review
by An Anonymous Twilight Fan
There is no doubt about it; Twilight is a phenomenon that has swept readers off their feet. On Friday, November 21st, as I was informed, a full crowd of people flocked the theatres, showcasing dedication and love for the books as well as the actors. However, the expectations of success were high, even before the movie was released. Was Twilight a complete failure, or was it successful?
Personally, I expected the movie to be great even though I knew that the movie would never be as wonderfully pieced together as the book and that the actors wouldn’t exactly look like the characters I had envisioned in my mind; so I tried to judge the movie as a visual representation of the novel and not as an exact replication. Despite that, the actors looked promising and the director dedicated herself to ensuring that the movie stayed true to the book. I thought it did stay true to the book, but some scenes, to me, steered slightly away from the strength of Bella and Edward’s relationship. In other words, it didn’t really look like an extremely passionate love at some points in the movie.
The Memory Keeper’s Daughter Book Review
Book by Kim Edwards
Review by Jessica Luu
Although The Memory Keeper’s Daughter isn’t a Christmas themed novel, the beginning of both the book and a tragedy takes place on one winter night in 1964.
Meet Dr. David Henry, a thirty-four year old orthopedic surgeon. Married to Henry is Norah Asher, who is pregnant with twins. It may seem like an ordinary situation. However, something unexpected happens on that one winter night. When a blizzard storms hits Chicago the night that Norah goes into labour, Henry is forced to deliver his own twins. Their obstetrician, Dr. Bentley, was unable to make it to the clinic. Paul, the first born son, is a healthy newborn; Phoebe is not. Henry instantly recognizes that she has Down’s syndrome. Due to what he thinks are good motives, he immediately claims Phoebe is dead and asks the nurse, Caroline Gill, to take her away to an institution. Instead, Caroline keeps the baby as her own and disappears into another city to raise her. From there, the story takes you on an emotional rollercoaster.
